Timepiece mechanism



United States Patent 2,992,526 TIMEPIECE MECHANISM Oscar H. Dicke, 211S. Washington St., New Bremen, Ohio Filed Sept. 4, 1958, Ser. No.759,079 12 Claims. (Cl. 58-109) This invention relates to mechanicaltimepieces and more particularly to semi-automatic rate regulation ofsuch timepieces and constitutes a somewhat different approach to theproblem from that of the approach resorted to in my prior applications,Serial No. 673,293 filed July 22, 1957, now Patent No. 2,927,421, andSerial No. 746,927, filed July 7, 1958.

It is well known that the time-keeping error of a clock or watch orother timepiece is proportional to the extent of setting required, ifset periodically at predetermined equal intervals, to set it to correcttime indication. Also, that the timepiece will be rate regulated tocorrect timekeeping if the same extent of adjustment to the rateregulation is imposed as the extent of setting of the clock handsprovided that the elapsed time period between the original setting andthe combined setting and rate regulation is properly chosen. Also, thatif the elapsed time between the original setting and the first combinedsetting and rate regulating adjustment, and the periods of elapsed timebetween combined setting and rate regulating adjustments thereafter, aremade at intervals each consisting of a predetermined fraction of suchchosen time period a fraction only of the required rate regulation willbe made at each combined setting and rate regulation adjustment, so thatcorrect rate regulation of the timepiece will finally be reached butwill be reached asymptotically.

In view of the foregoing, and other important considerations, it isproposed in accordance with the present invention to provide a settingknob for setting the hands of the timepiece to correct time indication,and to provide adjacent thereto and concentrically related thereto, arate regulating knob, the structure being such that if the two knobs arerotated synchronously to an extent and in a direction to set the clockhands forward the rate regulation structure is adjusted to'increase therate of operation of the timepiece and vice versa. In one form of theinvention, these knobs are preferably located on the front or dial side,of the timepiece so that the timepiece may be used on the instrumentpanel of an automobile and in another form of the invention it isproposed to provide such setting and rate regulating knobs on the backof the clock and preferably concentric with the axis of rotation of thetime indicating hands for use on either alarm clocks or shelf clocks.

In other forms of the invention, one or both of the knobs may beflexible so that the two knobs may be pressed together into contact witheach other and rotated together and in another form of the invention thesetting knob is preferably of slightly larger diameter than the rateregulating knob and is provided with a flexible skirt so that this skirtmay be firmly pressed into contact with the rate regulating knob, sothat the two knobs will be rotated together and to the same extentduring setting of the time indicating hands, which will simultaneouslytherewith result in automatic rate regulation of the timepiece. In thislatter structure when this skirt is left free only setting will takeplace.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the inventionwill be understood from the following specification when considered inthe light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the front elevation of a timepiece embodying the inventionand which illustrates a set button, or knob, on the face side of thetimepiece by solid lines,

the rate regulating button or knob being shown by dotted lines;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional elevation of the structure of FIG. 1, asviewed from the right side, showing the casing and portions of the gearsand associated mechanism in cross-section and showing other gears andpinions in elevation, the section being taken substantially through theaxis of the minute shaft; and

FIG. 3 shows a modified rate regulating button or knob constructed ofvery thin metal which may be flexed into contact with the setting buttonso that upon turning of the setting button or knob the rate regulatingbutton or knob will be turned the same number of degees.

Description of FIGS. 1 and 2 In FIG. 1 has been shown the front face ordial -11 of a clock which may, by reason of its appearance, be an alarmclock, but which by reason of its front setting knob 10, may be anautomobile clock.

This timepiece of FIG. 1 includes the face or dial 11, a bale 12 securedto the top of the casing 19, legs 13 and 14, a minute hand 15 and anhour hand 16, and a minute shaft 17. The rate regulating knob 18 hasbeen shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1. The setting knob 10 is providedwith a flexible skirt 10A, made of suitable flexible material, such asrubber, as more clearly shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a more directsetting knob 20 connected directly to the minute shaft 17 and shows asecond rate regulating knob 28 concentric with the setting knob 20 anddirectly behind the same, similar to the rate regulating knob 18directly behind setting knob 10 but with the rubber skirt 10A omitted.As pointed out hereinafter either one of these pairs of concentric knobsmay be omitted, if desired, and both pairs have been shown in FIG. 2because knobs 10 and 18 are more suitable for automobile clocks whereasknobs 20 and 28 are more suitable for shelf and alarm clocks. However,if desired, both pairs of knobs may be retained.

Although the mechanism of the timepiece has been shown to be a mechanismof the escapement balance wheel type, it should be understood that itmay be of any suitable type, so. long as it is: provided with speedcontrol means requiring rate regulating means for determining its speedof operation.

Referring to FIG. 2 the clock, or watch, mechanism comprises amainspring drum or barrel 21, containing a mainspring 22 having itsouter end connected to the drum 21 and having its inner end connected tothe shaft 23, having secured thereto a gear 24 comprising a portion of agear train consisting of gears 24, 26, idler gear 27 connected to theminute shaft 17 by a friction clutch 34, gears 30 and 32 and pinions 25,29, 31 and 33. It will be seen that pinions 25, 29 and 31 arerespectively integral with gears 26, 30 and 32 and that gears 24, 27, 30and 32 directly drive pinions 25, 29, 31 and 33 respectively. The pinion33 drives shaft 34A which supports and drives escapement Wheel 35, whichoscillates escapement pallet 36, the iforked end of which engages thepin 37 on the balance wheel 38, urged to a center position by thehairspring 40. It should be noted that spring barrel 21 is operativelyconnected to the winding key 39, suitable ratchet means being provided,not shown, for holding the spring barrel in its wound-up position, thatis, prevent the mainspring from rotating the spring barrel instead ofrotating the shaft 23 and gear 24. The rate regulating gear 45 has aneccentrically located pin 46 which has a bifurcated end which embracesthe outer turn of the hairspring 40, so that turning of the gear 45,between certain limits, as determined by spokes of gear 45 striking stoppin 47, will determine the effective length of the hairspring 40 and thespeed of operation of the 3 escapement mechanism. It is thus seen thatthe rate of oscillation of the balance wheel 30 is determined by theturned position of rate regulating gear 45 and that this determines therate of operation of the clock, or watch, mechanism.

The rate regulating gear 45 may be turned on its axis, which is coaxialwith the axis of balance wheel 38, by turning of the pinion 50, securedto shaft 51 driven by a pinion 52. This pinion 52 is in mesh with and isdriven by idler gear 53 in mesh with and driven by gear 54 integral withsleeve 54A contained on, and concentric with minute shaft 17. Theconstruction is such that if rate regulating knob 28, integral withsleeve 54A, is turned clockwise, as viewed from the front of the clock,the rate regulating gear 45 is turned counterclockwise and in adirection to reduce the effective length of the hairspring 44). In otherwords, if the knobs 20 and 28 are both turned clockwise, as viewed fromthe front of the clock, the clock hands 15 and 16 are advanced and therate of operation of the clock mechanism is increased. These clock hands15 and 16 and the dial 11 are housed behind the usual crystal or glass64.

It will be observed that the clock bands can also be advanced, that isset forward, by turning the setting knob clockwise, as viewed from thefront, this knob being integral with shaft 60 containing a pinion 61, inmesh with the teeth of idler gear 62, meshing with minute gear 63. Onthis shaft 60 is pivoted a sleeve 65, containing rate regulating knob 18and a pinion 66, meshing with idler gear 67, driving idler gear 68, inmesh with rate regulating gear 45. It is thus seen that when rateregulating knob 18, secured to sleeve 65, is turned clockwise, as viewedfrom the front of the clock the rate regulating gear 45 is turnedcounter-clockwise and in a direction to increase the speed of the clock.In this connection it should be understood that knob 10 is gearconnected to setting knob 20 and that rate regulating knob 18 is gear"connected to rate regulating knob 28 and that the gear ratio from knob10 to knob 20 is the same as the gear ratio of knob 18 to knob .28. Eventhough setting knob 10 must be turned more degrees to advance the minutehand one degree whereas only one degree of turn ing of setting knob '20is required to advance the minute hand 15 one degree, nevertheless whenknobs 10 and 18 are turned together and in synchronism the same extentof rate regulation is made per unit of setting as when knobs and 28 areturned together and in synchronism. Also, when knobs 10 and 18 areturned clockwise knobs 20 and 28 are also turned clockwise, both asviewed from the front of the clock. In other words, when knobs 10 and 18are turned in synchronism the knobs 20 and 28 also turn in synchronismeven through this latter pair of knobs turn a less number of degrees.

Operation of Figs. 1 and 2 Let us assume that the clock hands 15 and 16are correctly set with similar clock hands of a synchronous motorelectric clock operated from a frequency regulated commercialalternating current system having its frequency regulated to correctlymanifest the passing of time, and that such setting is accomplished byturning set button or knob 20 without turning rate regulating knob 28.Let us now assume that 24 hours later it is found that the clock ofFIGS. 1 and 2 is two minutes fast as compared with the same synchronousmotor electric clock, used as a standard. Let us also assume that therate-correcting rate, as determined by ratio of gears 45, 53 and 54 andpinions 5t and 52 and the structure of hairspring 40, is such thatseven-eighth of the time keeping error is removed if the knobs 20 and 28are turned, in synchronism, exactly twenty-four hours after the originalsetting, to set the hands 15 and 16 to correct time, as determined fromthe same synchronous motor electric clock, used as a standard. If we nowagain wait exactly 24 hours until we compare the time indication ofhands 15 and 16 with the minute and hour hand of the electric clock,used as a standard, we will find that the minute hand 15 is now onlyone-eighth of two, or onefourth minute fast as compared with the minutehand of the electric clock. If now, after another twentyfour hours lapseof time, this procedure is repeated we find that the clock of FIGS. 1and 2 will gain only oneeighth of one-fourth minute or one thirty-secondof a minute, or about two seconds per day. In other words, the finalremaining error is the first remaining error raised to the power of thenumber of corrections made. Namely, in the above example it will beone-eighth raised to the second power, namely squared which isone-sixty-fourth of two minutes which is two sixthy-fourth minutes oronethirty second of a minute or about two seconds. The rate at whichrate correction is preferably made, as just explained, is resorted to sothat the clock need not be set and simultaneously rate corrected byturning the knobs 20 and 28 in synchronism, at exactly twenty-four hourintervals. For instance, if one waited as long as twentyeight hoursthere still would not be an over-correction, but in this case the clockwould be substantially fully rate corrected, so that no secondrate-correction would need to be made. If, on the other hand, the userof the clock made a combined setting and rate regulation operation byfirmly holding the knobs 20 and 28 together and turning them insynchronism as he set the clock exactly twenty-one hours after theoriginal setting he would make a substantial under-correction, insofaras the rate correction is concerned, in that in this case he would onlyremove three-fourth of the error. If this were repeated three times onthree successive days the clock would be in error only one-fourth raisedto the third power or only one-sixty-fourth of the original error. Thisdesire to make an under correction stems from the fact that the user ofthe clock will have much leeway as to the exact time in which clocksetting and simultaneous rate regulation must be made in that theinstruction may call for combined setting and rate regulation to be madeat about twenty-four hour intervals, meaning from about twenty-one totwenty-seven hours after the previous setting, and at any minute in thisleeway period.

By looking at FIG. 2, it is readily seen that if knob 20 is grasped inthe usual way and turned, the knob 28 is not turned at all, but if careis taken to grasp both knobs 20 and 23 the operators hand willconstitute part of a clutch to lock the two knobs together. Also, ifsetting knob 10 is grasped in the usual way, and turned, the knob 18 isnot turned at all and only hand setting is accomplished, but if theskirt 10A thereof is firmly grasped this skirt 10A will engage knob 18and both knobs 10 and 18 will be turned together and in synchronism andcombined setting and rate regulation will result. In this connection itshould be understood that the skirt 10A may, for instance, be made ofvery thin metal, possibly slotted, to permit it to be flexed intocontact with the knob 18 or, if desired, the entire knob 10 10A may bemade of rubber so long as the disk portion is thick enough to preventthe knob 18 being turned when it is desired to only set, and not rateregulate, the clock. There will be a little friction between minuteshaft 17 and sleeve 54A and also between shaft 60 and sleeve 65. Toprevent accidental rate regulation during a setting procedure a springpressed brake 70 hearing against the side of the rate regulating gear 45has been provided. It should be observed that the hour hand 16 ismounted on a sleeve 16A which is gear driven by the minute shaft throughthe medium of reduction gears 72 and 74 and pinions 71 and 73.

In the foregoing discussion of the operation of FIGS. 1 and 2 no detailswere given with respect to the manner in which rate regulating knob 28,when turned in synchronism with the set knob 20 in a direction toadvance the clock hands, will shorten the effective length of thehairspring 40 by the operation of rate regulating gear 45. In thisconnection, it should be noted that when the clock is advanced byturning knob 20 clockwise as viewed from the front that the knob 28,when knobs 2i and 28 are gripped together, will also be turned clockwiseand that such turning of knob 28 will cause the effective length of thehairspring 40 to be shortened and the speed of operation of the clock tobe increased. Also, if desired, a set button such as knob 20 of FIG. 2and designated '80 in FIG. 3, may be used in combination with a rateregulating knob 88 shown in FIG. 3, which knob-88 is constructed of thinsheet metal, such as razor blade steel, so that it may be flexed intocontact with knob 80, is desired. Also, this knob 88 may be constructedof thin rubber, so that it may be flexed likewise.

As pointed out hereinbefore, either the knobs and 18 or the knobs 20 and28, may be omitted, in that if the clock under consideration is used asan auto clock, on an instrument board, the knobs 10 and 18 arepreferably used and if the clock is used as an alarm or shelftype clock,the knobs 20 and 28 are preferably used. In this connection it should beunderstood that if knobs 10 and 18 are omitted the pinions 61 and 66 andthe gears 62, 63, 67 and 68 are also omitted. If on the other hand theknobs 20 and 28 are omitted then the gears 53, 54 and pinions 50 and 52are also omitted. It should however be understood that both pairs ofknobs may be retained, if desired.

Having thus shown and described numerous embodiments of the invention,it should be understood that the showing of these modifications has beenresorted to in order to illustrate the nature of the invention, ratherthan the specific form the invention may take, and it should beunderstood that the forms shown do not exhaust all forms the inventionmay take and that various changes, modifications and additions may bemade so long as these changes do not depart from the scope of theinvention as defined by the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A semi-automatically rate regulated timepiece comprising; a gearreduction train; means for driving said gear reduction train; escapementmechanism driven by said gear reduction train; adjustable rateregulating means operatively connected to said escapement mechanism anddetermining the rate of operation of said escapement mechanism inaccordance with its adjustment; a slip clutch; a rotatable timeindicating hand driven by said gear train through the medium of saidslip clutch; a setting knob for setting said time indicating hand byslipping said slip clutch; and a rate adjusting knob operativelyconnected to said rate regulating means arranged coaxially with andadjacent to said setting knob so that both knobs may be grasped togetherby the operators hand and turned together and in synchronism. said rateregulating knob being so operatively connected to said rate regulatingmeans that when said knobs are turned together and in synchronism and ina direction to advance said time indicating hand, said rate regulatingmeans is adjusted in a direction to increase the rate of operation ofthe timepiece.

2. A semi-automatically rate regulated timepiece as defined in claim 1,wherein at least one of the knobs is constructed of flexible material sothat the two knobs may be brought into contact with each other inengagingclutch fashion.

3. A semi-automatically rate regulated timepiece as defined in claim 1,wherein the setting knob is secured to a setting shaft and the rateregulatingknob is secured to a sleeve surrounding said setting shaft.

4. A semi-automatically rate regulated timeplece as claimed in claim 1;wherein the concentrically juxtaposed knobs are located on the dial-sideof the timepiece. 5. A semi-automatically rate regulated timepiece asclaimed in claim 1; wherein the concentrically juxtaposed knobs arelocated on the back of the timepiece.

6. A semi-automatically rate regulated timepiece as claimed in claim 1,wherein the setting knob is secured to a setting shaft and the rateregulating knob is secured to a sleeve surrounding said setting shaftand supplemented by a flexible skirt depending from said setting knoband surrounding said rate regulating knob to enable this skirt to bepressed by the operators hand into engagement with said rate regulatingknob.

7. A semi-automatically rate regulated timepiece comprising; timekeepingmechanism; rate regulating mechanism for determining the speed ofoperation of said timekeeping mechanism and connected to saidtimekeeping mechanism, said rate regulating mechanism being adjustableto change the speed of operation of said timekeeping mechanism; a slipclutch; a rotatable time indicating means by said timekeeping mechanismthrough the medium of said slip clutch; a setting knob for setting saidtime indicating means by slipping said slip clutch; and a rate adjustingknob operatively connected to said rate regulating mechanism andarranged coaxially with and adjacent to said setting knob so that bothknobs may be grasped by the operators hand into a unitary structure andturned together and in synchronism, and when so locked together andturned in synchronism, and in a direction to advance said timeindicating means, said rate regulating mechanism is adjusted in adirection to increase the rate of operation of the timekeepingmechanism.

8. A semi-automatically rate regulated timepiece as defined in claim 7,wherein at least one of the knobs is constructed of flexible material sothat the two knobs may be pressed by the operators hand into contactwith each other in engaging-clutch fashion.

9. A semi-automatically rate regulated timepiece as defined in claim 7,wherein the setting knob is secured to a setting shaft and the rateregulating knob is secured to a sleeve surrounding said setting shaft.

10. A semi-automatically rate regulated timepiece as claimed in claim 7;wherein the concentrically juxtaposed knobs are located on the dial-sideof the timepiece.

11. A semi-automatically rate regulated timepiece as claimed in claim 7;wherein the concentrically juxtaposed knobs are located on the back ofthe timepiece.

12. A semi-automatically rate regulated timepiece as claimed in claim 7,wherein the setting knob is secured to a setting shaft and the rateregulating knob is secured to a sleeve surrounding said setting shaftand supplemented by a flexible skirt depending from said setting knoband surrounding said rate regulating knob to enable this skirt to bepressed by the operators hand into engagement with said rate regulatingknob.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS519,488 Woodsum May 8, 1894 1,597,067 Dienner Aug. 24, 1926 2,498,835Brotman Feb. 28, 1950 2,554,029 Holdman May 22, 1951 2,700,867 DoaneFeb. 1, 1955 2,779,154 Maurer Jan. 29, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent- No 2,992,526 July 18, 1961 Oscar HyDicke It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numberedpatent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should readas corrected below.

Column 6 line 24 after "means" insert driven Signed and sealed this 28thday of November 1961.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of PatentsUSCOMM-DC UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo, 2,992,526 July 18,, 1961 Oscar 'I-I. Dicke It is hereby certifiedthat error appears in the above numbered petent requiring correction andthat the s aid Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6 line 24,- after "means" insert driven Signed and sealed this28th day of November 1961.,

( SEA L) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of PatentsUSCOMM-DC

